Irlam FA Vase decision
Thu 20th October 2016 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Irlam have agreed with Saturday’s opponents Newcastle Benfield to play to a finish in their FA Vase First Round tie.
In the Vase, as long as both clubs agree, the tie can be decided on the day by a penalty shoot -out in the event that the sides are level after extra time. If they don’t agree, then a replay will be required.
However, as Irlam Secretary Warren Dodd explained, even though Irlam have been drawn away from home, he made the suggestion of a one off game to their Northern League opponents.
“We made the decision purely on sporting terms”, he said.
“I wouldn't ask a team from the North East to travel down to Manchester on a Tuesday night.
“From a financial point of view also, if we replayed and lost we would lose at least £300 in equalisation of match official’s expenses.
“Given those two factors, we made the decision to finish on the day”.
The issue of replays and rescheduled fixtures in the FA Vase is of course, one that the League Management Committee has raised with the FA before now, most recently last season.
1874 Northwich were forced to withdraw from the Vase after a postponement of their scheduled Saturday tie with Morpeth Town saw it rescheduled for midweek, meaning that the Greens either had to make a near 400 mile round trip on a Tuesday night, or forfeit the tie.
As a result, League Secretary John Deal submitted a proposal to the FA Vase Committee, suggesting that in the event that a club would be faced with a midweek trip of over 100 miles for an FA Vase game, the rule should be that the tie is switched to the next available Saturday.
The decision was taken to contact the FA in the aftermath of 1874 Northwich’s experience, and also after several of our other clubs, including Runcorn Linnets, Runcorn Town and Atherton Collieries had to make long journeys up to the North East in midweek.
It’s particularly pertinent this weekend as several of our clubs or their opponents in Vase ties are facing the possibility of the type of long midweek trip that Irlam have taken steps to avoid Newcastle Benfield making.
The distance between the Newcastle Benfield and Irlam grounds is 155 miles, a journey with an estimated time of 2 hours 39 minutes. Some of the other FA Vase ties on Saturday involving our clubs are of similar length or estimated time:
1874 Northwich v Billingham Synthonia - 152 miles, 2 hrs 38 minutes
Stockport Town v Ryhope Colliery Welfare - 138 miles, 2 hr 21 mins
South Shields v Runcorn Linnets - 170 miles, 2 hrs 56 mins
Atherton LR v Chester Le Street Town - 140 miles, 2 hrs 20 mins
Ashton Town v Billingham Town - 140 miles, 2 hrs 22 mins
Newcastle Benfield v Irlam - 155 miles, 2 hrs 39 mins
Atherton Collieries v Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA - 150 miles, 2 hrs 32 mins
Congleton Town v Hall Road Rangers - 124 miles, 2 hrs 29 mins
Holker Old Boys v Stockton Town - 115 miles, 2 hrs 21 mins
Litherland REMYCA v Shildon - 131 miles, 2 hrs 28 mins
It’s particularly interesting to note that down south, two ties on Saturday have had replay dates scheduled for the following Saturday: Sholing v Buckland Athletic and Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Plymouth Parkway.
Distances and journey times in those instances are as follows:
Sholing (based in Southampton) to Buckland Athletic (based in Newton Abbot) - 131.4 miles, 2 hrs 42 mins
Bemerton Heath Harlequins (based in Salisbury) to Plymouth Parkway - 131.8 miles, 2 hrs 25 mins
It's not often that the rules in a national cup competition are open to different interpretations, and League Secretary John Deal says that the League Management Committee will continue to press the FA for clarification.
"The FA Vase rules state that replays and rescheduled games can be played on Saturdays in exceptional circumstances. The issue is that there is no definition given of what these circumstances might be", he said.
"Our proposal to the FA is that a trip of over 100 miles should be treated as one of the exceptional circumstances, simply to ensure that a club is not disadvantaged in any way by having to make a long trip in midweek, with the corresponding possibility of having to field a weakened team.
"We still await a response from the FA on our proposal, which was raised again at the recent Step 5/6 meeting, as we are disappointed this matter wasn’t resolved prior to the start of this season’s tournament.
"It is interesting to note that the two ties at Sholing and Bemerton have been given Saturday dates for replays, and we as a League would also be happy to sanction the postponement of a league fixture on a Saturday to accommodate an FA Vase tie, if the visiting club was having to travel over 100 miles to fulfil the fixture.
"It is our hope that the FA, and other Leagues around the country, will agree that it is time the issue was clarified as we believe it is common sense to ensure that clubs are not forced to make long trips in midweek to fulfil fixtures in FA competitions".
Irlam FA Vase decision
Thu 20th October 2016 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Irlam have agreed with Saturday’s opponents Newcastle Benfield to play to a finish in their FA Vase First Round tie.
In the Vase, as long as both clubs agree, the tie can be decided on the day by a penalty shoot -out in the event that the sides are level after extra time. If they don’t agree, then a replay will be required.
However, as Irlam Secretary Warren Dodd explained, even though Irlam have been drawn away from home, he made the suggestion of a one off game to their Northern League opponents.
“We made the decision purely on sporting terms”, he said.
“I wouldn't ask a team from the North East to travel down to Manchester on a Tuesday night.
“From a financial point of view also, if we replayed and lost we would lose at least £300 in equalisation of match official’s expenses.
“Given those two factors, we made the decision to finish on the day”.
The issue of replays and rescheduled fixtures in the FA Vase is of course, one that the League Management Committee has raised with the FA before now, most recently last season.
1874 Northwich were forced to withdraw from the Vase after a postponement of their scheduled Saturday tie with Morpeth Town saw it rescheduled for midweek, meaning that the Greens either had to make a near 400 mile round trip on a Tuesday night, or forfeit the tie.
As a result, League Secretary John Deal submitted a proposal to the FA Vase Committee, suggesting that in the event that a club would be faced with a midweek trip of over 100 miles for an FA Vase game, the rule should be that the tie is switched to the next available Saturday.
The decision was taken to contact the FA in the aftermath of 1874 Northwich’s experience, and also after several of our other clubs, including Runcorn Linnets, Runcorn Town and Atherton Collieries had to make long journeys up to the North East in midweek.
It’s particularly pertinent this weekend as several of our clubs or their opponents in Vase ties are facing the possibility of the type of long midweek trip that Irlam have taken steps to avoid Newcastle Benfield making.
The distance between the Newcastle Benfield and Irlam grounds is 155 miles, a journey with an estimated time of 2 hours 39 minutes. Some of the other FA Vase ties on Saturday involving our clubs are of similar length or estimated time:
1874 Northwich v Billingham Synthonia - 152 miles, 2 hrs 38 minutes
Stockport Town v Ryhope Colliery Welfare - 138 miles, 2 hr 21 mins
South Shields v Runcorn Linnets - 170 miles, 2 hrs 56 mins
Atherton LR v Chester Le Street Town - 140 miles, 2 hrs 20 mins
Ashton Town v Billingham Town - 140 miles, 2 hrs 22 mins
Newcastle Benfield v Irlam - 155 miles, 2 hrs 39 mins
Atherton Collieries v Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA - 150 miles, 2 hrs 32 mins
Congleton Town v Hall Road Rangers - 124 miles, 2 hrs 29 mins
Holker Old Boys v Stockton Town - 115 miles, 2 hrs 21 mins
Litherland REMYCA v Shildon - 131 miles, 2 hrs 28 mins
It’s particularly interesting to note that down south, two ties on Saturday have had replay dates scheduled for the following Saturday: Sholing v Buckland Athletic and Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Plymouth Parkway.
Distances and journey times in those instances are as follows:
Sholing (based in Southampton) to Buckland Athletic (based in Newton Abbot) - 131.4 miles, 2 hrs 42 mins
Bemerton Heath Harlequins (based in Salisbury) to Plymouth Parkway - 131.8 miles, 2 hrs 25 mins
It's not often that the rules in a national cup competition are open to different interpretations, and League Secretary John Deal says that the League Management Committee will continue to press the FA for clarification.
"The FA Vase rules state that replays and rescheduled games can be played on Saturdays in exceptional circumstances. The issue is that there is no definition given of what these circumstances might be", he said.
"Our proposal to the FA is that a trip of over 100 miles should be treated as one of the exceptional circumstances, simply to ensure that a club is not disadvantaged in any way by having to make a long trip in midweek, with the corresponding possibility of having to field a weakened team.
"We still await a response from the FA on our proposal, which was raised again at the recent Step 5/6 meeting, as we are disappointed this matter wasn’t resolved prior to the start of this season’s tournament.
"It is interesting to note that the two ties at Sholing and Bemerton have been given Saturday dates for replays, and we as a League would also be happy to sanction the postponement of a league fixture on a Saturday to accommodate an FA Vase tie, if the visiting club was having to travel over 100 miles to fulfil the fixture.
"It is our hope that the FA, and other Leagues around the country, will agree that it is time the issue was clarified as we believe it is common sense to ensure that clubs are not forced to make long trips in midweek to fulfil fixtures in FA competitions".
